Introduction to Criminological Research Methods

1.10.2026 - 1.3.2027

5 cr

Intermediate studies

The course examines, among other things, the use of legal sources, the description of the legal state, register research, criminological online databases as well as key areas of overall crime rate research, such as victim research and research on self-reported crime. Historical and qualitative methods are also discussed. Finally, students will be provided with an introduction to the study of causality, for example, family situations and natural experiment designs, as well as the compilation of information (systematic review). The thread running through the study material for the course is methods for consolidating replicability and preventing confirmation bias.

Contains

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Additional information and registration

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Additional information:

Fields

Social sciences

Scope

5 cr

Code

SOSK-KR210

After completing the course, students will understand the material acquisition and research methods used in research on crime and its control. Methods are described in detail with a focus on their special relationship with criminology. The thread running through the course is the replicability and transparency of research. After completing the course, students will know how to differentiate between descriptive research and research explaining causal relationships, and understand the key goals of the research process, such as replicability and prevention of a confirmation bias. They will be proficient in the basics of what kinds of research designs can be used to study causal relationships of criminological phenomena. They will understand what levels of evidence mean related to research.

Kohderyhmä

1. Sosiaalitieteiden kandiohjelma

2. Sosiaalitieteiden maisteriohjelma, kriminologia sekä vuosittain vahvistettava kiintiö Oikeustieteen koulutusohjelmien opiskelijoille

3. Psykologian kandi- ja maisteriohjelmat, Kandidatprogrammet i samhällsvetenskaper (KSV), Sosiaalitieteiden maisteriohjelma

4. Muut opiskelijat

Ajoitus

Periodi 2.

Sosiaalitieteiden kandiohjelman opiskelijoille suositeltava suoritusajankohta 3. opintovuosi.

Toteutus

Suoritustavat: Osallistuminen opetukseen.

Vastuuopettaja määrittelee suoritustavan vuotuisessa opetusohjelmassa (luennot, essee, kirjallisuustentti tai muu)

Organiser

University of Helsinki

Contact details

uni-help@helsinki.fi

Belongs to themes:

Education and learning

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